Chapter Eleven-Each Other's Only Hope

Chapter Eleven

Each Other's Only Hope

Spencer and Johnny both rose excitedly as Emily Prentiss tore off her jacket that was now soaked in blood, as she closed the bathroom door behind her.

"I got the bullet out," she said, sitting, and rubbing her eyes.

"Is she okay?" Johnny asked fervently. "Please tell me she is okay!" he whispered.

"She's fine. Asleep. She's lost a lot of blood, so take it easy tonight. You have about 6 hours of night left. Let her sleep then do whatever. You mind telling me how this happened?" she asked.

"Turn on the news..." Johnny whispered, turning his head so his expression was kept hidden. Spencer mumbled under his breath as he did as he was told. He turned the set, and Johnny's face was there. They always acknowledged him as MLB player that he was, not the boy Melanie knew. Reid turned through seven more channels, showing Emily the contents. Each was the story of the baseball player, only 19, and how he had killed a man in cold blood, then stole away with a young girl. The girl was thought to be a victim, and that's what really made Johnny's blood run cold.

"G-guys?" Melanie's weak voice trembled from the corner. Spencer ran to her as she tried to grip the wall for support, but began to fall. Her legs were wobbling like a new born horse, and she couldn't stay standing. Spencer dragged her to the couch (she was probably the heaviest thing he'd ever lifted like that. He was dying afterward), laying her down. He put her head on his lap, and he stroked her hair. After, a moment, she tried to sit up, and she failed miserably, falling back onto Reid.

"Stop moving. Your wound may be bandaged but it's not closed. Your just pushing it out with every movement," Emily growled lovingly at her.

"You've already lost so much blood," Spencer whispered, taking her hand.

"I'm gonna go take a shower," said Johnny, who didn't bother to ask. He left the three in the room.

     Melanie looked like she was going to fly away if any puff of air hit her. Reid had never seen her so pale and skinny. Even her ruby red lips had turned a unnoticeable pink. That scared Reid the most.

"...So...you don't hate me?" Melanie whispered in her little meek voice.

"What?" Spencer whispered. Melanie blushed, and Spencer was pleased to see that she had enough energy to do that. Emily excused herself into the kitchen.

"...You didn't ask me to dance last night. I stayed by your side practically all evening, and you never danced with me...I thought you hated me, and you were just...repulsed. That you didn't want to touch me." Melanie looked away and her face turned even redder.

"God, no...Melly...I never...I have never been repulsed by you. Your my best friend."

"...Then why didn't you dance with me?"
Emily came back in at this point, a false smile on her face. "Drink this," she said. Melanie did as she was told, and gave a grimace after downing the mysterious drink. 
"You may be the first person to take that drink well."
"No one can take that drink well. And I have a horrible gag reflex, just saying." Melanie sat upright without any trouble, and stood. She had to steady herself, but then turned to her coworkers, her head hidden on her chest. "I'm leaving with him," she whispered.
"What?" Spencer asked after a moment.
"I have to."
"Melanie," Emily hesitantly began,"You don't have to do anything. You didn't kill that man. You don't have to run."
"No...you see, I do. I know I won't be held responsible for that young man's death, but I am going to face hell. I can't marry Phillip...I just can't...That's hell!" she screamed, covering her face. "Living in France for the rest of my life while he does politics and I look pretty. What is that? Nothing good can come from it. He'll get me pregnant and I'll have kids and maybe that will give me purpose. But...they'll take them from me too. Everything good in my life has been stripped from me! My father...my master...my safe house..." Reid couldn't understand Melanie's rants but he felt as if his legs were going to give out. "Johnny told me he loved me. We are going to get married. Soon. We'll run, get out of the country, change our names. That life is better than the one I'm supposed to lead."
"Melly, you can't-"
"What do you want to do, Melanie?" Emily asked.
"...It's too late for that. You know when a Princess is born, she doesn't have the choice to be a doctor, or a singer, or whatever she pleases. She is bound by laws that others aren't bound by. I have those rules ingrained in me so deep...but I can't any more...I just can't...it's too late..."
"What can I do?" Spencer whispered.
"...I need you to call the justice of the peace, but don't tell them our names. Don't mention the FBI or even baseball games."
Johnny entered again, his dark curls wet and pressed to his forehead. "Book the nearest bridal suite, one room will suit us fine."
"What names should I use?" Spencer choked, his back to the couple.
"Mr. and Mrs. Smith..." Melanie sighed.
Spencer heard Johnny groan, and he knew he was kissing some part of Melly. (Her hair at this point). "Imagine it!" he cried, twirling his future wife as Emily stole the phone from Reid. "No early calls, no big premiers, no press always watching..."
"We'll spend the nights making our own little league baseball team," Melanie crooned.
"We're no one you've ever seen..."
"Movie stars don't live anywhere here, except on the local drive-in screen..."
"Where do you want to live, Melly?"
"Let's move to Main Street, USA...We'll both get good, blue collar jobs. Work 9 to 5. We'll struggle with money and it will all be okay. We'll...suffer and cry but we'll be so happy," she whispered.
"I'm going to the store. I've got a gun. I'll be fine. I'll get supplies, then we'll go." Melanie smiled at her future husband and his plan. He left and Melanie tensed.
      Spencer went to his window and stared out it, trying to hide the tears he couldn't hold in. He would never see Melanie again. He would never see her hair down...he had only seen it once, but it had been so dark and he couldn't remember. This was the only time he had ever seen her in casual clothes. Emily had brought them for her. A black and white hoodie-sweat shirt and black sweat pants. Her hair was braided and slicked back. He would never see her walk down the isle, or get pregnant. He would never hold her children. He wouldn't see her smile again, or bite her ruby red lips. He wouldn't watch her cry, her pain, ever again.
"Talk to me," she whispered behind him, pain in her voice. Reid turned on a heel, and left the room. Melanie wiped a tear away, and turned to Emily.
"Who were you dancing with last night?" Melly asked her close friend.
"...An old friend. Mick Rawson."
"I remember the name. He's from Doc's group. You worked the one case with them, when it was the annual killing of the father, daughter, and a few homeless men. I remember it."
"He had a little crush on me...it was nice to talk. He was from the younger, less careful me. It was fun to see how he thought I would act, the same. Of course I didn't...I really lost the ability to trust...like you."
Melanie didn't say a word as her smile dropped. "You sound like you like him."
"I do. I didn't call him then and I won't call him now. He's nothing special to me."
Melanie smiled weakly, and took her friends hands in her own small, pale one. "Thank you, Emily. You are one of the best friends I could ever ask for. Thank you...so much, Em."
***
"Melanie...Melanie...Wake up!! Melanie!! Now!" Emily was shaking her friend awake. Her head fell back slack as she tried to sit up again. Melly's bandage needed changing badly.
"W-wha..." she whispered.
"I'm going to look for him!" Em screamed as she lunged off Melly.
"Prentiss, no!" Reid struggled to stop her in the door way. She stopped not because of force, but respect.
"What's wrong?" Melly whispered, blue eyes locked on Reid. "Where is he? What's happened?"
"...He shot a cop, Mel."
Melanie's heart sunk. She realized how deep she was in this.
"Who?"
"...Mick!" Emily cried, her head flopping lifelessly into her hands.
"...Is he?"
"No," Spencer whispered. "Just in intensive care. But he could..." Emily moaned again.
     The world stopped around Melly in that moment. A life on the run or a life of pointlessness and luxury? Did it matter?
"What am I-"
"Hush!" Prentiss whispered, and they all slapped out of their emotions. "Listen..."
"It's my phone," Melanie moaned.
"Don't answer it," Prentiss growled in warning.
"What if it's him? I have to." It was evident none of her friends was going to grab for her phone, so Melanie dragged herself out of bed to get it.
"Hello?" she whispered hoarsely into it.
"Melly? Thank God..."
"Johnny!" she cried, and sobbed into her hand.
"I'm fine, Melly. Listen, I need Reid or Prentiss to get you to the outskirts of town. You know that old bridal shop on 52nd? Go there. There is a fence. We get over that, we are home free. I've got plane tickets out of the country. I won't say where, now. I've got birth certificates and other crap like that. Enough supplies to last us months. This is a disposable cell, so I'll throw it away and don't call it again. Cool?"
"...Cool..."
"Bye, Mel."
"Good-bye, Johnny..."
"I love you, Melly."
"...Love you, too..." and the line clicked dead. "My God..."
***
Melanie left the house alone that night. She told Spencer and Emily what was going on. She found she couldn't whisper the word good bye, so she collapsed in her friend's arms. She left sobbing, her hood up and hair tucked in. She was a ball of black and white, both good and evil.
    Melanie stalked up 52nd. There was a turn, and if Johnny was where he should be, she would be in his arms in just 40 or so feet.
"Mel?" she heard his voice before she saw him in the dark.
"Johnny?"
"Melly!" they both set off at a sprint for each other's arms, but the gun came out so fast and Melanie never saw the bullet hit her partner, but she felt his blood on her hands and his heavy body falling on her, making them both collapse.
"Get away from there!" one of the cops screamed, but Melanie just stared wide eyed at the boy in her arms. He was choking on his own blood, trying to gurgle something to Melanie. She watched as his wide eyes stared into her own, and she watched them die. She slowly sat down the body, and rose. She looked around, and saw the cop with the gun in his hand. She pulled out her FBI credentials and held her hand out for the weapon. He gave it to her.
"How many bullet's are in this gun, sir?" she whispered lifelessly. He didn't respond.
"How many! How many people can kill, like you killed him?! Huh?! How many people can I kill and still save one bullet for me! Because I can kill because I have hate! I know what the meaning is now!" she screamed, sinking to the ground. She caught Reid's stare out of the corner of her eye, then two men trying to take the body.
"Don't touch him!" she screamed, covering his body. Spencer came to her, sinking to her side. "He was my only hope..." she whispered.
"...I know..."
     Spencer looked at Melanie. He had never seen her eyes so dark and scared and...angry. Melanie had never been this angry. Life had been taken from her, she had seen it leave him. It left her a shell, left only to fill by evil. But Melanie was still there, and she would come back. Perhaps not the same, but there. Because Melanie was different. She was beyond good and evil.

She was Melanie Wilkes. And she had been through hell.

And there will be hell to come.

Johnny Potter was not her last chance. 

Chapter Ten-The Forbidden Fruits Taste the Sweetest

Chapter Ten

The Forbidden Fruits Taste the Sweetest

"Spencer...Spencer...Spencer Reid! WAKE UP!"

Spencer flew out of the comfort of his bed and onto the wood floor of his home.

"You are one sound sleeper," Melanie commented.

"When I want to be," he mumbled, rubbing his neck. "Why are you in my house...how did you get in? You didn't want a key."

"I picked the lock," the blonde girl smiled, showing him the dusty hair pin in her hand. It was mangled from use and the rust had worn off onto it. She bended it into shape, wiped it off, and stuck back into her hair to help hold it into the stiff pony tail it was constantly kept in.

Spencer sighed, continuing to rub his neck and kept his eyes closed.

"Do I dare ask why you are here?" he said in his high pitched voice.

"Because," said a familiar voice from another room as the BAU's technical analyst stepped into view. "We need your bathroom."

"Why?" he asked.

"Because!" Melanie held out the word, taking his hands and yanking him to his feet. "We're going to a ball!"

********************************************************

As Spencer once again stuck his head in through the bathroom door, he could only see Melanie Wilkes face contort into a grimace.

"Are you sure we can't go back to the house and get a prettier dress? This isn't one of the best I've stitched," she pouted.

"No. You may want it, but you can't be noticed."

"I'd rather be a raven than a robin," Melanie humphed. "Penny, I just...I want this. This rebellion I'm going through. It's been building up in me...who cares if anyone finds out I went?"
"You'll get in trouble, I'll get in trouble, Hotch will, Emily will, Rossi will, Derek will-"
"They are strong people. I will take the blame for this. I swear."
"Reid will."
Melanie's eyes burned a hole in the mirror, staring at her reflection. "Alright, Penny...but please blend in this foundation! I'm not tan and this does no favors the rest of my pale body!" the pair laughed. Garcia came toward Melanie to do as her friend asked, not before slamming the door with her high-heel to close it shut from prying eyes.
**********************************************************
"Look at you!" Emily said as Melanie waltzed up, her face glowing from the warmth of the candle-lit room. The blonde girl dropped to a curtsy, pulling her skirt out to her side.
The dress was a pretty silken gown, which flowed down Melanie in a bronze river. ("It's brown," Melanie sighed,"why on Earth did I make a brown dress?" "It's bronze," Penelope argued. "It's brown!") a little cloak concealed Melanie's bare shoulders. It was the same fabric of the dress, and it buttoned in the front. It lead up to a high, rounded collar, but not so high that is bumped her chin when she chose to hide her face.
Her gold hair was piled on her head in a little wrap-in bun. It looked darker because of the lighting, but that only made her seem more beautiful in the dark dress.
"You look gorgeous," Morgan said, bowing dramatically at the girl. Melanie blushed and thanked him. (Reid had said the same thing to Melanie, she only punched his arm and told him not to lie to her face again. (He saw her smile and knew she didn't mean it.))
"I am a product of Penelope Garcia, Queen of many-if not all-talents," Melanie said, hugging her friend. Penelope laughed.
A song began to play, and the group dispersed, JJ and Prentiss toward the bar, Morgan to dance with Penelope, and Melanie and Reid stood by a banister of the grand stair case.
Melanie hummed and Spencer wanted to ask her to dance, but felt to frightened. Melanie looked at Reid several times, asking him how he thought the room looked, about the music, even venturing so far as to ask him whether or not she should leave the cloak on or off her body. Reid answered she should probably keep it on, or get cold. Melanie frowned at him, and turned away. She had never been good at flirting, and she knew men like Reid couldn't take a hint, but golly! Reid just couldn't catch on.
Spencer kept wanting to ask Melly to dance, but couldn't find any courage. Soon, even there conversation began to lack. Melly felt cheated out of a ball when there was no man willing to dance with her. She even felt angry at Reid for not asking her to dance. She hated that feeling, but couldn't help but think that even as a friend, Spencer didn't want to touch her. She loved Spencer dearly, as she loved all her friends at the BAU, she even loved Phillip and Charlie in their own ways, but no one ever could love Melanie back. Her heart felt like it was breaking.
"SSA Wilkes?" a short pale man asked, coming up to her.
"Yes-" Melanie sniffed, then saw the visitor.
"SSA POTTER! OH-ehm, SSA Potter, sir. What are you doing here?"
"To dance, and I believe this is honestly the first time we've met. Please to meet you, Miss Wilkes."
"Oh, no sir! The pleasure is all mine!" Melanie fervently shook the hand of the old, short hand. "Spencer!" Melanie hissed,"Do you know who this is?!"
"SSA Potter of the...BIA? Right?"
"Yes," said Mr. Potter to the young BAU agent. "And you?" he asked.
"This is Dr. Reid of the BAU," Melanie cut in, again with a beaming smile.
"Well, the BAU certainly has some young ones," said the SSA agent with a smile. "And I hear very pretty young women. I've met Miss Jareau before, and I've heard great things about Miss Prentiss, and now upon seeing Miss Wilkes, Doctor, you must be overwhelmed!"
Reid blushed. "Er, yes..."
"Well, I've heard you married a very beautiful woman years ago. You have a son, do you not?" Melanie said, smiling.
Morgan walked up silently, Penelope behind him, both faces glowing from the exercise of dancing.
"Yes, actually, I married a woman from a reservation I was sent to. Tay was as sweet as can be. We have a son just about younger than you, Miss Wilkes. Johnny Potter. Maybe you've heard-"
"Johnny Potter the baseball player?" Morgan asked.
"The same," Mr. Potter replied smiling for his son. "You've heard of him?" he asked Melly.
"Er, yes. On the news..."she said, her face twisting.
"I take it wasn't good news," frowned the BIA agent.
Melanie frowned.

"That's actually why I came to talk to you. He hasn't been...he's been involved with some...gang activity. It's only a hunch, but I am worried for him...Could you...keep tabs on him? Just enough. I'm not asking a full investigation-"

"I couldn't make that a BAU case if I wanted to, Mr. Potter. But I can make it a practice way. I will not lie, eavesdrop, or commit some unforgivable sin to keep tabs on him, though. Consider this a personal favor, Mr. Potter. I would be in some trouble if anyone found out, and I refuse to take a hit for this. I will go to no great lengths to do this for any acquaintance, even one as great as yourself. Do you agree to my terms?"
"I-"
"Father!" A tall boy came behind Mr. Potter, wrapping his arms his father's neck. They both smiled.
Melanie cocked an eyebrow at the BIA agent, and Mr. Potter nodded to her. He accepted.
"Who are your friends?" the boy asked, looking at the agents.
"These are SA Morgan, Garcia (?), Dr. Reid, and Melanie Wilkes."
The boy called Johnny went with a smile, shaking every one's hands. He got to Melanie, and she challengingly held out her hand, palm down. She cocked an eyebrow and tilted her head. He took the hand, and bowed over it, letting his lips touch her skin. He returned to full height, sarcastically cocking his eyebrows. Melanie's eyes narrowed.
"Miss Wilkes, I presume?" he said.
"The very same," she smiled.
"You look like your brother," he said.
"You know Charlie?" she asked, her angry pretense dropping. He laughed.
"Everyone in my circle knows Charles," he replied.
"...Hmph..." Melanie whispered, eyebrows pushed together.
"My names Johnny," he said, holding out one hand for Melly to shake, using the other to slick back his dark brown hair. Melanie sighed.
"So I've been told..." she mumbled.
Johnny continued to vie for Melanie's attention as the night went on, shocked that any girl could say no to him. Melanie, however, was quite enjoying herself. Not many men-okay, like, four in her life time, ever tried to play this game with her. Melanie took pride in the fact she had a boy interested-and at the fact she was able to keep him at arm's length.
It was late in the night and most agents had left. Mr. Potter even bid his 19 year old son good night early in the evening. It was only 11 o'clock, but Melanie was not used to staying up so late, and she grew more fatigued by the minute. Johnny watched her from across the room, as he had been for the past two hours. He had gone up to her almost 9 or more times, and each time she refused to act interested in the boy. Melanie enjoyed being able to put his ego into check. He hated it.
Melanie just sat on the steps of the staircase, Dr. Reid leaning against the banister, often making a comment to her, which she would respond to with a one worded answer. Johnny was getting bored just watching their conversation, and couldn't imagine how terrible it must be to take part in it.
"Look," Johnny said, no smirk on his face, his hands in his pockets," your too pretty and too smart to be sitting here on the steps, not dancing. Dance with me."
Melanie snorted,"I'd rather-"
"Hey, cut it," he said, looking at her stern. He was tired. He was bored. He was going to be damned if he didn't get one dance with her.
Melanie rose to her feet. "Give me one good reason why I should dance with you," she growled.
"I don't see you dancing with anyone else," he said.
Melanie looked at her feet, and sighed. "Tell me something else...is it just to screw with my brother?"
"No," he answered, honestly.
"Then why?"
"'Cause your damn hot, and your proud, and your the only girl who didn't ask to get in my pants tonight! Look...your something else, Melanie Wilkes, I can just tell. Show me that."
Melanie looked at the man who was in her face, and slowly, a smirk formed. She grabbed his hand tight as she said, loudly enough for Reid to hear, and Morgan and Penelope to hear 7 feet away,"Call me Melly."
***************************************************************
"Look at you!" Emily said.
Melanie's red eyes opened wide and she jumped a foot.
"Oh," she yawned,"it's you." Then she smiled dumbly at the wall.
"How long have you been here after-"
"I just came here after. I had a change of clothes in my car. Took a shower, slept in my office. It was easy."
"How late were you out with him?" Emily asked, poking her friend in the ribs.
"...Two...maybe three...we never left the...you know. Place."
"Yeah. You gonna see him again?"
"...Not outside of the spying his father has set me up to do."
Garcia frowned and Reid turned to hide his smile. "Why not?" protested Garcia,"You two hit it off-"
"And I'm engaged to be married. Plus, he and I? What's a more laughable concept! He was mean, and course, and unrefined! I need a man who gives much more. Like Phillip..."
"Yeah, he's Prince Charming..." Emily mumbled.
"And Johnny was?" Melanie retorted. "...Whatever..." Melanie growled, returning to the file in her hands. "Just...whatever..."
****************************************************************
"Goodnight, Melanie," Strauss said as she left, and Melanie waved goodbye to her aunt.
"SSA Wilkes?"
"Yes, Anderson?" Melanie smiled at the Tech Agent who walked in, and he smiled at the sweet girl. "There's a boy here for you."
"Oh...is it the Comte Dufour?"
"No, it is a boy with a guitar. Dark hair? He'd said you'd remember him from...er...last night."
"Oh," Melanie humphed. "God, Anderson, I assure nothing untoward happened...Just...gah...send him in, please. Thank you, Anderson."

"What are you doing here?!" the blonde agent screamed at her uninvited guest after Anderson closed them in the room together.
"I-I had to see you again, Melly."
"SSA Melanie Wilkes. Didn't your father in the FBI teach you anything about how to address agents? Goodness..."
"You look tired," Johnny whispered concerned. "Maybe you should sit-"
"Don't invite me to sit in my own-..." Melanie trailed off with an odd sense of deja vu. Melanie slowly lowered herself into the chair next to him. "Do you play?" she whispered uninterested, not looking at him.
"Yeah, I came to play...for you..."
"Oh, how nice," Melanie said with a emotionless smile.
"God, you are tired, Melly. I was going to..."
"Yes?" Melanie asked, finally looking at him with awareness.
"...My friends and I are doing this...drag race tonight, and I was wondering if you wanted to go. ...It's a lot of fun, Melanie."
"...Johnny, I'm in a relationship-"
"And that's totally great, Mel. I just want to take you as a friend. Please?" He took Melanie's hands in his, and he smiled when Melanie shivered, then blushed.
"This is an attempt to gain my affection, though, is it not? Or is this just something to screw with Charlie or some other dumb thing, because if it is, I swear to God-"
"No, no, Melanie, I swear, it's not."
"...I've been made a fool before. If you make one of me, I will make you pay, Master Potter."
"...Master?"
"Dear God..."


"Was that...Johnny that just left with Melanie?"
"What other tan, dark-haired boy with a guitar could it be, Emily?" Garcia said. 
"...I am really happy for her," Emily whispered.
"What? I don't understand," Reid said.
"...She's falling in love."
"In  her own standards."
"She doesn't love him," Spencer huffed.
"...She will," Emily said.  Spencer palled.
"If she falls in love with him, it will be the greatest mistake of her life!" he yelled.
"That's what love is," Garcia said.
"God, she's just a girl!"
"This is how she grows."
"It's too dangerous, I can't let her-"
"You will," Prentiss growled, outstretching an arm to stop him.
"What is that based on Emily? Your happiness for her or the fact that you got knocked up and you just want her perfect life to have that same horrid out look? Huh?" Reid stopped. "God...Emily...I didn't-"
"I know, Reid. It's okay. But, don't go after her. She has to do this."
"...She's just a girl..."
*****************************************************************
"Whhhhhhoaaaaaaaaaa-Hoooooooo!" Melanie yelped from her place on the side of the alley.
"I told you you would have fun," Johnny whispered in her ear. It was cold, and he had let Melanie stay inside his over sized jacket-with him still in it. His scarf was wrapped around both their necks, and tied at chest level. Her head was ducked into his neck, and his arms were around her waist. He hummed in her ear, and Melanie leaned into him, closing her eyes.
      Johnny's so called friends had turned out to be his gang, and a rival gang. Johnny's crew was a rag-tag bunch, not unlike the boys Melanie used to pal around with when she was young. She didn't spend much time with them, but still, she could call them her friends.
       The last of the races began and Melanie screamed for the driver to hurry down the short-stretch of street. Johnny began to brush his lips against Melanie's ear, and she giggled a little. She didn't know whether she was doing this because SSA Potter had asked her, or because she liked being liked. Maybe it was both. She simply let it be considered as her being undercover. Melanie called out again when Johnny's gang won. She slipped out of his jacket, but kept his scarf so that Johnny could go and celebrate with his friends, jumping and screaming. He came over to Melanie, and tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away. He didn't get discouraged though.
     A leader from the opposing gang, came up to Johnny. He wasn't happy by any means, but they were beat.
"Great game-" Johnny said, but stopped when he saw the gun come from out of the man's pocket. He pulled the trigger, and Melanie cried out, and crumpled to the ground. The man barely had time to laugh before Johnny pulled out a pistol of his own and fired, hitting the man in the forehead. He fell to the ground, dead.
     No one moved, even Melanie stayed silent as she stared at what he had done.
"Melly..." Johnny whispered, he ran over to her, holding her fast to his chest.
"He just nicked my arm," Melanie said, pulling back from the dark-skinned boy she had been holding just a few moments earlier.
"L-Look!...Look what ya did, Johnny..." a boy whispered behind him. Johnny stared and Melanie thought he might cry.
"Murder-!" screamed a boy from the opposing gang, but Johnny pulled the gun out again.
"Any one of youse talks again, and I swear I'll kill ya. Now, I'm gonna take Melanie some where safe, and you all is gonna be quiet when I leave. Got it?"
Melanie yelped and winced as Johnny threw her over his shoulder, then set off at a jog. When they were out of view, it only took a few moments for the howls of "Murderer!" to erupt from behind them. Melanie stared to cry.
"What have you done?" she whispered.
"Is there anywhere we can go, Melanie? We need to get you help and we can't go to no hospital."
"...Yes..."
*****************************************************************
Johnny knocked urgently and softly on the apartment door.
"What are you doing-Melanie?" he whispered.
"Spencer...we need help..."
"You're bleeding..."
"Don't say anything else. Let us in."
"God, Melanie, what happened?" Reid said once he shut the door, helping Johnny lay her on the couch.
"You gotta get the bullet outta my arm, Spence, I'm gonna bleed out..." Melanie coughed. The scarf was wrapped around it, but it was already soaked in her blood. Johnny went and threw up in Reid's sink. He stared at the pair. 
"I...I have to call someone," Reid said.
"No!" Johnny lunged for the phone. "No, authorities."
"Call her, Spencer...I need help, now...please..." Melanie blacked out from the blood loss.
"God, Prentiss?" Reid yelled. "Get over here. Now. It's Melly..." 

Chapter Nine-Personal Expirence

Chapter Nine

Personal Expirence

     "I just wish, oh, how I wish I could go! Please, Aunt, Please reconsider!" Melanie begged to Erin Strauss.

"It's not even official, just some of the agents gathered an idea to form this ball," she said, in her distastful mood. "Besides, the only man I would ever aprove of you dancing with is your fiance. Has he allowed you to go?"

"He would but momma said-"

"Then listen to your mother."

      Erin Strauss left a pouting Melanie in front of her office.

"What's wrong?" Garcia asked as the team came up.

"Aunt won't let me go to the ball that's tomorrow night."

"What's so special about it?" Reid asked her.

"Oh, Spencer! Just the idea of it is so romantic and thrilling!" she held her hands over her heart-or rather the yellow and blue plaid tie, that matched the skirt and yellow wool cardigan she was wearing. "Its just...I've always wanted to see one. And now, when it is right in front of me, I am forbidden to go. I just angers me to the point of no return!"

"Just go," Emily said. "I'll help you sneek out."

"Hold your tongue!" Melanie gasped, signalling her to shush. "If anyone were to hear you-!"

"What would happen? I can't get fired."

"No, but I would get a good beating!"Melanie hissed. It was honestly no secret Melly was abused, but it was the first time she had ever truthfully ackwoldedged it.

"I'll keep quite," Emily whispered as the walked toward the conferance room.

*****

"She was raped?" Melanie breathed. "She was only 12...Oh God..." she covered her face with her hankerchief. Garcia grabbed her hand, trying to console her. They were all on the plane.

"But she survived," Emily said, without a smile.

"Sometimes being dead is better..."Melanie whispered, pulling her sleeves down. Reid eyed her arm, wondering why Melanie had twitched in that way, but tried to ignore it.

"Can I talk to the girl?" Melanie asked.

"You're in charge." Hotcher replied.

Melanie swollowed and replied she would like Emily to come with her. Hotchner agreed that would be best. Reid smiled at Melly who seemed deeply pained by this. He grabbed her little hand with both of his, and rubbed it most of the plane ride. JJ noticed this, and added it to her list to believe the two were together. But Melanie had not once been unfaithful to Phillip. She had thought of it before, and almost accidentally did, but never had. Spencer could never like her in that way...not even her future husband....

****

Reid and Hotchner watched from outside the interview room as Melanie sat down, and Emily stood in the corner, and began talking to the little girl.

"Hi, sweetheart," Melanie said, sitting in front of the girl, taking care not to get to close to her. The girl was small, looking almost 10, and her skin was pale and ivory. She had pretty blue eyes and long red hair, which she braided on one side. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked.

"Au-Audreyanna."

Melanie smiled overly dramatic and said what a pretty name it was, and to belong to such a pretty girl. She asked her if she was hungry, or wanted anything. The girl declined. She asked again, and again the girl said no.

"Audreyanna, this isn't going ot be easy. But we are going to retrace your steps before...what happened."

   The little girl's eyes swelled and she looked stricken.

"I-I don't wanna..." she whispered feverantly.

"I know. I don't want to make you do this either. But we need your help to find him so he can't hurt anymore little girls." Melanie reached out and took the girl's hand. "Can you please help me?"

   The little red headed girl nodded slowly.

"What were you doing?" Melly asked, still holding Audreyanna's hands. She closed her eyes.

"...I was playing...mom told me to stay by her, but there was a rabbit, and I went to pet it. It ran off and I lost it. It was crowded and I couldn't find mom again. It got really dark all of a sudden, and then-" the girl shook and moaned and Melanie assured her she was right there and that no one could hurt her.
"Are you sure?" whispered the girl.
"He will never touch you again. And I'm here. I would die to protect you, sweetie."
Audreyanna smiled with her eyes closed, then gulped. "He came up behind me, and told me he lost his doggie. He looked nice...I thought..." she screamed.
"I know, I know..." Audreyanna ran around the table to Melanie. She accepted the girl with open arms, placing her on her lap. She shook.
"He can't hurt you anymore...we're going to get him...but we need you're help."
"He...he had on a blue shirt...like that," she said, pointing to Melanie's skirt.
"Plaid?"
"Yes. He had...a dark scruffy beard."
"How long?"
     The two went at it for a little longer, and Melanie told the girl she was done and didn't have to do this any longer. She smiled and hugged Melanie.
"Isn't there anything else I can do?" she asked.
"You've done so much. You've been so helpful and brave. You are a strong girl, Audreyanna. One of the strongest I've ever met. You helped me so much. I do believe I owe you. How about I buy you an Ice cream? Huh? Sound good?"
"...Can it be strawberry?"
"It can be a whole bucket full of strawberry!"
Audreyanna smiled. "Will you share it with me?"
"I certainly will, sweet heart."
"Hey, I gotta..." she looked down.
"Go to the bathroom?" Melanie whispered with a slight smiled. Audreyanna nodded.
"Do you want me to take you?"
Audreyanna looked from Melanie to the door to the hall. "No...I've got it."
Melanie lead the red-head out, and she scampered to the bathroom. Melanie smiled.
"Hey," a boy, around the age of Melanie with bright red hair came up behind her. "Thank you, for this. I'm Todd, Audrey's brother."
"You have a brave girl with you, Todd. She's so strong."
"I know. I'm worried about her. She has nightmares...everynight. What do I do? I try to help, but all I seem to do is make things work. How can I help my little sister?"
"...The nightmares will most likely never stop. When something like this happens, most kids curl up in balls, never leave their rooms, and...commit suicide before high school. She hasn't done any of this. Keep her in public, keep her with friends. Good girls. Or boys. It doesn't matter which. Men might even be better, if they're sweet. Don't let her be afraid, but never force her. Always make everything seem like her idea. Let her do things her way. As for the nightmares...hold her. Let her be comfortable with human touch, crave it. This helps."
"Thank you..." the boy whispered. "My parents...."
"I understand. I myself still don't know the answer. Keep her safe and if they are being pessimistic, keep her away from them as much as possible.....Keep her young, Todd. Let her stay young. She still has her innocence and that's all you can ever ask for. That girl is something and you hold on and you save her. Got it? Don't fail her."
"...I got it." He left.
"That wasn't in any psychology book," Hotchner said to Melanie, Reid by his side.
"No," she said, tears running,"That was from personal expirence."
     At this point young Audreyanna came running out of the bathroom and smiled at Melanie.
"Ready for Ice Cream?" she asked her.
"I am always ready for Ice Cream!" Melly exclaimed and the two left together.
****************************************************************
JJ watched little Audreyanna sneak into the BAU's set up room, and roar at a sleeping Melanie. Melanie screamed and sputtered away, eyes wide and filled with horror. Upon seeing it was just the redhead, she slowly untensed.
"I'm sorry," the little girl whimpered.
"No, no...it's okay...you just caught me off guard..."
"...Okay," she replied. "Can I go get a milkshake before we start?"
"Yes, but hurry, dear," Melanie whispered, touching her head as she left.
"Why do you need my daughter, again?" Audreyanna's mother hissed. "Haven't we been through enough?"
"You haven't been through anything," Melanie said cooly, cocking her head.
"Miss Wilkes," Hotchner warned. Melly sighed.
"We need more information from your daughter-"
"She's given you all she knows."
"No. She knows more, but is trying hard to forget it."
"Then why bring it up?"
"Because there are other girls!" Melanie bellowed. "There are other little girls that will suffer unless we find this man! Do you honestly want that? Another girl like your daughter?! Audreyanna is strong, but other's may not be-"
"I want out. Now."
"You're daughter is strong-!"
"We're moving and hiding her. Homeschool."
"Why are you doing this to her-"
"Melanie!" Emily yelled, pulling down on the little girl. Melanie looked from her, to Mrs. Hurst.
"I have expirence with women like you. If I had my way, you would never be able to hurt you daughter again."
"wha-"
"I'm ready Melly!!"
*****************************************************************
Todd Hurst came belowing in with his sister as the BAU was packing up ready to leave.
"Hey," said Melanie, hugging the girl and shaking hands with her brother. "I was hoping you'd come before we hauled off."
"You caught him?" Todd asked.
"...Yes," Melanie whispered, pulling Audreyanna tight when she felt her tense.
"I want to see him," Todd said firmly.
"...I can't let you, Todd," she whispered, setting the girl on the ground. She stepped closer to the boy as she whispered. "Things like that...they engulf you. The hate...you won't be able to think straight. Take her home, love her. Keep her strong, pure, and young. Let her be. Let her live and make mistakes. She has one tough skin."
"...I have to see him."
"Please, Todd, trust me."
"...Say good-bye, Aud."
"Goodbye Miss Melly."
"...Bye-bye, sweet heart."
"Hey!" Todd yelld as they were leaving.Melanie turned to them. "Can we call you some time? To talk? I think you're like some kind of genius or something the way you know everything."
Melanie laughed," No...I am no genius, and Todd...no one knows everything...some people just know things people need to know."
*****************************************************************
"You did good," Derek said to Melanie on the plane, slapping her leg.
"But you crossed lines," Rossi said.
"I did what I thought had to be done, said what I thought would help."
"You thought-" Hotchner scolded.
"I did. Nothing can be changed. I will learn from expirence and not what you have learned. I'm stubborn, boys. It's time you learned it." Melanie smiled when Derek wrapped his arm around her and she hugged Em. She was finally fit in some where.


But is that what she wanted?